A 32-year-old man was killed Tuesday after being struck by lightning in Monroe Township, New Jersey, as severe storms passed through the region. Police have not yet released further details about the victim.
This incident marks the eighth lightning-related death in the United States in 2026. According to the National Lightning Safety Council, lightning deaths have decreased significantly since 2001, when Lightning Safety Awareness Week began. In 2026, two lightning deaths have occurred in Florida, which is listed by the CDC as one of the states with the highest numbers of lightning-related injuries and deaths. Other states on this list include Texas, Colorado, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Arizona, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.
Approximately 37 million lightning strikes hit the ground in the U.S. annually. Despite this, the odds of an individual being struck are less than one in a million, and nearly 90% of lightning strike victims survive, according to the CDC. The CDC also reports that over the last 50 years, Florida has recorded more than 2,000 lightning-related injuries.